Hay loader



Nw, 5,1929. G. E. sTRoUP 1,734,100

HAY LOADER Filed May 1s, 1927 l 3 Sheets-sheet 1 I \ll NOV. 5, 1929. .A G, E STROUP 1,734,100

HAY LOADER Filed May 18. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet `2 Nov. 5, 1929. l G. E. sTRoUP HAY LOADER Filed May 18, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet Ar PA/EK Patented Nov.. 5, 1929 GEORGE ERNEST STBOUE, OF HOHER TOWNSHP, @RO

HAY LOADER My invention particularly relates to hayloading means whereby the hay is loaded in sections or portions of a complete load upon the rear of the wagon or other carrier, is

uniformly packed laterally of the carrier in each of these load portions, and such portions then shifted or carried forwardly of the wagon in sequence so as to provide room for the loading of another section from the rear of the wagon, until the complete load is thus obtained. These different operations are in complete and convenient control of the driver at the front of the wagon, and can individually be set in motion or stopped at his will,

and act entirely automatically when started,

until again stopped by the driver.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means illustrating my invention, such disclosed 2O means constituting, however, but one of the forms in which the principleof the inven.; tion may be shown.

In said annexed drawings:

Figure l is a Side elevation of my improved J hay-loading means in connection with a conventional form of wagon or carrier, the conveyor of a conventional rear-loading hayloader being suggested; I Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section, taken in the planes indicated by the lines lll-Il, Figure l, showing one load portion partially completed, and the packing-arms for uniformly laterally loading the same in the position for pulling or raking the crown of the load section toward the sides of the wagon; Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 in which the load portion has been completed and packed, and the packing or distributing .o arms are in their upper or most nearly vertical position, the load portion being ready for shifting or carrying forwardly to provide space for the dumping of another load portion by the ground loader;

Figure 3a is an enlarge .l fragmentary por tion of the top of one of the packingarms;

Figure'f is a fragmentary horizontal section, upon'an enlarged scale, taken in the plane indicated by the lines IV-IV, Fign ure E2; and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the elements shown in Figure 1,

Referring to the annexed drawings in which the same parts are indicated by the same respective ordinals in the several views, ,f

l indicate a conventional carrier or wagon frame by the ordinal l provided with a running (fear includingl rear and front wheels 2 and 2 7 respectively, and rear and front axles 22 and 23, respectively. Secured to a vertical front wall 3 is a platform 4 for the accommodation of the driver who is also in control of the improved hay-loading means hereinafter to be fully described. The wagon frame l is mounted on two heavy 'longitudinal beams A supported upon and rigidly secured to bearing members B mounted upon the axles 22 and il, and a plurality of transverse beams C mounted upon the beams A. Upon the foundation comprised of the beams and C and wagon frame l mount my improved hay-loading means into which theghay is discharged from the rear by the carrier 5 of any conventional form of loading mechanism for automatically transferring the hayT from the ground to the wagon. This hay-loading mechanism is ordinarily operated .from the running gear of the hay Wagon and is shown in the accompanying drawings as operated by the chain engaging the upper sprocket l'secured to theu transverse roller '72, and

engaging the lower sprocket 73 secured to the transverse shaft (4, there being scoured to the shaft Zei a second sprocket 75 engaging a chain 76 which also engages a sprocket 77 secured to a transverse shaft 43, hereinafter more fully described. The upperP rear trans-- verse roller 72 is provided with smooth spring wirel teeth 78 and serves to prevent the hay .from being pulled back under the ronveve y J o of the ground loader.

The frame l comprises carrier frame side members 6 spaced by longitudined side sills 8 from other transverse side frame members T whose inner edges rest upon angle frame members 9 supported upon the inner edges of the side frames 6. An adjustable and. flexible flooring or apron l0-li comprised of transverse relatively jointed members or slats connected by rollered links 8l and forming a dir lill) tallic bearing strips 12 secured forwardly and ing stri being relatively .through rearwardly of the wagon frame and intermediately supported by timbers on transverse beams C which are grooved, as shown by 79, `p

for the accommodation of the bears 12, the actual movement of the jointed f ooring around the rollers 31 so as to control the amount of the flooring. which shall comprise the upper section 10 at any one time being effected by chains 15 secured beneath the flooring and running over sprockets 30 mounted on the front part of the wagon. The upper lioor portion 10 is supported by transverse frame members 16 which are grooved for the accommodation of metal bearing strips 17 over which runs the rollered fiooring. The purpose of the adjustable Hooring and operating chains just mentioned is to shift a load portion, such as shown in Figure 3, a few feet forwardly from the rear of the wagon and thus provide room at the wagon rear for another load portion to be dumped and properl laterally packed therein. This floor or loadY adjustment is controlled by the means now to be described. Mounted in the side sills and in the beams A of the wagon frame are three transverse shafts 18, 19 and 20 centrally braced b member 61 secured at their ends to two of, the beams C and having bearing portions 62 for'said shafts, three sets of sprocket wheels 21, 22 and 23 being secured respectively to said shafts 18, 19 and 20, and adapted to engage the chainsll, the shafts 18, 19 and 20, and the sprockets 21, 22 and` 23 arranged as plainlyshown in Figure 1, wherein it will be noted that the shaft 20 is mounted in the beams A and is positioned below and intermediate the shafts 18 and 19 which are mounted in the side sills of the wagon frame, and that the chains 15 run over the top and inner faces of the sprockets 21 and 22 and around and beneath the sprockets 23. A chain 24 passes around a sprocket 25 secured to one rear wheel 2 and also around a clutch section 26 loosely Figure 2,

mounted upon the shaft 20. A complemenl tary clutch section 27 secured to the shaft 20.

is controlled by a vertical lever 28 positioned adjacent the drivers platform 4 and secured at its lower end to one of a rock shaft 29 which at its other end vis secured to the clutch member 27. It is evident from the accompanying drawings and the foregoing description that the driver can control the adjustment of the hay floor proper for shifting the load portions lforwardly of the vwagon body the medium of the lever 28, and that such forward shifting of the load portion can be in an amount desired by the operator. l The several load portions are successively dumped into a housing mounted upon the rear of the wagon. This housing comprises lateral vertical thin metal sections 32 and 33 and a rear section 34, thus affording an upper mouth or openino' 35 for the entry of the hay. The capacity of this enclosure is shown inthe accompanying drawings to be determined by .a built-up front frame or fence section 36 suported by braces 37 upon the wagon frame. When the load is shifted forwardly of the side metal frames 32 and.33 so as no longer to be laterally supported by the latter, it is retained in lateral position from slipping or shifting out of alignment by a pair of longitudinal side ropes or cables 38, plainly shown in Figures 1 and 5.

As the hay is loaded through the entry it is manipulated by automatic packers, so as to secure uniform lateral distribution, by the following means. Secured to a hub portion of one of the wheels 2 is a sprocket wheel 39 engaging with a chain 40 which also engages withv a sprocket wheel 41 loosely mounted upon a transverse shaft 43, a hub portion 41l of said sprocket wheel 41 being formed with a clutch portion 42 adapted to cooperate with a cooperating clutch member 42 secured to the transverse shaft 43. At both ends of said shaft 43 are securedbevel gears 44 cooperating respectively with other bevel gears 45 secured to shafts 46. To one end of these shafts 46 are respectively secured sprockets 47 engaging with chains 48 which further engage with sprockets 49 mounted upon crank-shafts 50. The outer ends of the crank-arms 51 are pivotally secured to packer-arms 52 provided at their outer ends with'a plurality of packing-fingers 53. The clutch member 42 is secured to a longitudinally extending rock shaft 64 whose front end is secured to a vertically extending lever 65 disposed adjacent the drivers platform 4. It is evident that the operation of the crank-arms 51 and consequently of the packing-fingers 53 is under the control of the operator from the platform 4. Means are provided whereby the packing-arms can automatically find the proper vertical position for the packing operation,

Awhatever the height of the load portion may be, whereby also the dragging or ackin effectof the fingers 53 is from the crd)wn an center of the load portion toward the side edges of the wagon and whereby the repeated return or inward'movements of the packingarns 52 from thersides of the Wa on towardthe arrows in the accompanying drawings, and by the provision of certain means operating upon and centrally of the packing-arms 52 to give them the respective movements for each cycle of operations which is necessary for these results and which is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. As shown, the packing-arms 52 are formed with enlarged central portions having elongated slots 52 intersecting which are pins 54 mounted in slide-blocks 55 adapted line of movement. Then the continued rotation of the crank-arms will cause the packingarms 52 to lift in elongated slots 52 on pins 54, gradually lifting the packing-arms 52 to the position shown in Figure 3 when the crank-arms 51 again pass the center line and the packing-arms 52 will be lowered down to the crown of the load portion which has in the meantime accumulated through the opening 35. The cycle of operations will be repeated until the load portion reaches the dimensions and lthe shape substantially shown in Figure 3. The pivotal movement of the packing-arms 52 is eected upon rollers 52 mounted upon the pins 54. Within the slots 56 are coiled springs 80 acting upon the blocks and permitting the packing-arms 52 to be raised when the hay has been filled in tightly under them during the finishing of each load portion. In order that accumulated portions of hay between the frame members 57 and the packing-arms 52, when the latter are substanti/ally in the position shown in Figure 3,

may not strain or break these arms, I make them of two jointed portions through the medium of a pivotal connection 58, the arm portions being normallv held in alignment through the medium of a spring'59 securedv at its ends to posts 60 respectively mounted upon two arm portions. The spring 59 is so calibrated that any material strain uponQthe rear of the arms 52 will cause the armjpor-l tions to separate at the j oint58 in an amount sufficient to prevent the breaking of the arms. Also, to permit easierunloading, I joint lthe extreme upper. ends of the packing-arms 52, as shown in Figure'3". is secured to the arm proper 52 vby a hinge 67 and is retained in alignment by a springactuated tooth 68 adapted to engage a-strap 69 secured to the arm 52 and formedjwith a' slot 69 with which the tooth 68 is removably engaged.

The jointed end 66- What claim is:

1. A hay-loader comprising a wagon including wheels and a frame; a flexible apron support; means for moving said apron forwardly and rearwardly of the frame including transmission elements adapted to be driven by one of said wheels; spreading and paclcing arms projecting interiorly of said frame; means actuated by the movements of one of said wheels for reciprocating said arms transversely of the frame; and clutch members controlling the operation of said apron-moving means.'

2. A hay-loader comprising a wagon including wheels and a frame; a flexible apron support; means for moving said apron forwardly and rearwardly of the frame including transmission elements adapted to be driven by one of said wheels; spreading and packing arms 'projecting interiorly of said frame; means actuated by the movements of one of said wheels for reciprocating said arms transversely of the frame; pivotal mountings for sald arms intermediate their free ends and their connections to said reciprocating means; and clutch members controlling the operation of said apron-moving means.

3. A hay-loader comprising a wagonvincluding Wheels and a frame; a flexible apron support; means for moving said apron forwardly and rearwardly of the frame includ lng transmission elements adapted to be driven by one of said wheels; spreading and packing arms projecting interiorly of said frame; means actuated by the movements of one of said wheels for reciprocating said arms transversely of the frame; pivotal mountings for said arms intermediate their free ends and their connections to said reciprocating means; means providing for the vertical reciprocating of said pivotal mountings; and clutch members controlling the operation of said apron-moving means.

4. A packing element for use inhay-loa'ders l neicomprising, in combination-with as'up ort` mg frame; arr/arm extended transverse (of .the frame and provided with hay-engag'ingfi lingers; a vertical support mounted upon the? frame and formed with 'an elongated slot; at' pin adapted to be reciprocated in said slot andupon which said arm is' ivotally mounted; and means or actuating tl e outer end ont said lm I pp 5.* packing element for use in hayioaders comprislngm combination with a supporting frame, an arm extended transversely of the frame and provided withhay-engaging iin gers; a vertical support mounted u n the frame and formed with an elongate slot: a block adapted to be reciprocated in said slot and provided with a pin upon which said,

naar' comprising, in combination with a supporting frame; a jointed arm extended transverselyv of the frame and provided with hay-engaging fingers; elastic means normally holding the jointed portions of said arm in alignment; a vertical support mounted upon the frame and formed with an elongated slot; a pin adapted to be reciprocated in said slot and upon which said arm is pivotally mounted; and means for actuating the outer end of said arm.

7. A packing element for use in hay-loaders comprising, in combination with a supporting frame; an armA extended transversely of the frame and jointed intermediately its ends, said arm being provided at its inner end with hay-enga ging fingers; elastic means normally holding the jointed portions of said arm in alignment; a vertical support mounted upon the trame and formed with an elongated slot; a pin adapted to be reciprocated in said slotl and upon which said arm is pivotally mounted, the inner finger-portion of said arm also being jointed; releasable means for holding said finger-portion in alignment; and means for actuating the outer end of said arm.

8. A hay-loader comprising running gear; longitudinal main supports mounted upon said running gear; transverse supports mounted upon said main supports; a Wagon frame mounted upon said transverse supports; side sills mountedfupon said wagon frame; an angle support mounted upon said sills; a flexible apron mounted upon said angle support and movable in box directions over the rear of the wagon frame, the

' top run of said apron being supported upon said transverse supports; chains incorporated with said apron and movable in both directions over the frontof the wagon frame clutch means connected to said chains; an operators station mounted upon the front of the wagon frame; an operating lever adjacent said station for actuating said clutch; packing arms mounted transversely of the wagon frame; means for actuating said arms; clutch means connected to said actuating means; a second operatinglevcr adjacent said station for actuating said second clutch; and independent means connecting both of said clutches with the running gear.

9. A hay-loader comprising running gear; longitudinal main supports mounted upon said runninggear; a wagon trame supported thereon; a flexible apron mounted upon said angle support and movable in both directions over the rear pf the wagon frame; chains incorporated with said apron and movable in both directions over the front of the wagon frame; upper and lower metallic bearing straps for said chains; means for supporting 'the top and bottom runs of said chains and with which said bearing straps are incorporated; clutch means connected to said chains;

' an operators station mounted upon the front wagon `frame; means for actuating said arms;

clutch means connected to said actuating means; a second operating lever adjacent said station for actuating said second clutch;

and independent means connecting both of sai'd clutches with the running gear.

10. A hay-loader comprising a wagon including wheels and a frame; a two-part loading-housing mounted upon the rear ot4 said frame and provided with an upperhay-receiving opening; a flexible apron support; means for moving said apronforwardly and rearwardly of the frame including transmission elements adapted to be driven by one of said wheels;v spreading and packing arms projecting interiorly of said frame from both sides and extended intermediately the two parts of said loading-housing; means actuated by the movements of one of said wheels tor reciprocating said arms transversely of the frame; and clutch members controlling the operation of said apron-moving means.

1l. A hay-loader comprising'a wagon including wheels and a frame; a loading-housing mounted upon the rear of said frame and provided with an upper hay-receiving opening; a transverse hay-retaining roller mounted adjacent the rear ot said housing and provided with hay-engaging teeth; means for rotating said roller to cause said teeth to direct the hay forwardly in said housing, said rotating means including transmission elements adaptedto be driven by one of said wheels; a flexible apron support; means for moving said apron forwardly and rearwardly of the frame including transmission elements adapted to be driven by one of said wheels; spreading and packing arms projecting interiorly of said frame; means actuated by the movements of one of said wheels for reciprocating said arms transversely of the frame; and clutch members controllingthe operation of said apron-moving means.

l2. A packing element for use in hay-loaders comprising, in combination with a supporting trame; an arm extended transversely Vof the frame and provided at one end with hay-engaging fingers; a vertical support mounted upon the frame and formed with an elongated slot; a pin adapted to be reciprocated in said slot and upon which said arm is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends; a crank for actuating the other end of said arm; and means for automatically operating said crank.

Signed by me this 19th day of April, 1927.

GEORGE ERNEST STROUP. 

